Freeze plug hole heater



Jan. 11, 1966 A. A. KERL. ETAL FREEZE PLUG HOLE HEATER Filed Oct. 5, 1953 1|. villlllll United States Patent Oiiice 3,229,069 Patented Jan. 11, 1966 3,229,069 FREEZE PLUG HOLE HEATER Alfred A. Kerl, New Brighton, and John H. Klancke,

Minneapolis, Minn., assignors to Phillips Manufacturing Company, Ine., Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Filed Oct. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 313,692 13 Claims. (Cl. 219-208) This invention relates to a core plug or freeze plug hole heaters for automotive engines. More particularly, it relates to an improved heater for automotive engines which is constructed and designed to be easily and quickly applied to the engine in lieu of a freeze plug or core plug.

Every water cooled internal combustion engine is so engineered and constructed that there are holes made in the block to be used in the casting process to eliminate the sand used in casting. These holes are then bored to predetermined sizes and individually plugged with a cup or welch type plug. These holes in the block are plugged by either a cup or welch plug are variously called core plugs or a freeze or frost plug. For the purpose of this application, the hole shall be referred to as a freeze plug.

It is a general object of our invention to provide a novel and improved freeze plug hole heater of simple and inexpensive construction and application and relaly great adaptability.

A more specific object is to provide a novel and improved freeze plug hole heater which is unusually simple and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved freeze plug hole heater capable of being utilized in freeze plug holes of various dimension such as are normally experienced in the trade and constructed so as to be selfadjustable to the same.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved freeze plug hole heater of such novel construction so as to permit the same, by mere substitution of an inexpensive part thereof of different size to adapt the same for use in freeze plug holes of substantially greater dimensions.

Another object is to provide a novel and improved freeze plug hole heater of novel construction which automatically insures against possible loss of the heater and the engines circulating fluid as a result of the heater becoming detached.

These and other objects and advantages of this invention will more fully appear from the following description, made in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference characters refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and in which:

FIG. l is an exploded view of an embodiment of our invention;

FIG. 2 is an inner end view of the same;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional View taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and illustrating the relation of the heater to the engine wall after it has been applied to the automotive engine; and

FIG. 4 is an outer end plan view of the heater.

One embodiment of our invention, as shown in FlGS. 1-4, includes a metal tubular member indicated generally by the numeral 5 and having an exteriorly threaded end portion 6 as well as an inner end portion 7. Mounted within the metal tubular member 5 is a copper electrical heating element 8. This electrical heating element is conventional in construction and preferably is constructed similar to the heating element shown in U.S. Patent No. 2,783,352 issued to D. D. McKay on February 26, 1957. It will be understood, however, that other suitable electrical heating elements may be utilized without varying the invention. As best shown in FIG. 3, the heating ele- Fil ment 8 is sealed in position within the end portion 7 of the tubular member 5 with any suitable substance such as lead or an epoxy resin. This material has been indicated by the numeral 9 and it serves to mount the heating element 8 rigidly upon the tubular member 5 and at the same time seal off the interior of the latter member so as to preclude the escape of circulating fluid from the automotive engine when the heater is applied thereto. As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electrical heating element 8 is provided with a pair of electrical connectors 1) and 11 which are adapted to cooperate with a female electrical plug connector (not shown) so as to connect the heating element electrically with a source of electrical power (not shown). A guide pin 12 is also mounted in the member 5 and extends outwardly adjacent the wall of the tubular member 5 to guide the female plug when the same is inserted into the tubular member to effect the electrical connection.

Mounted upon the inner end portion 7 of the tubular member 5 is a plug member 13. This plug member 13 may also be referred to as a spreader member in that it does accomplish a spreading or camming function as will be hereinafter described. The plug member 13 also functions as a plug in cooperation with the annular sealing element as will also be hereinafter described. AS shown, the plug member 13 is comprised of a disc or plate which is sealed around the inner end portion 7 of the tubular member 5 and is fxedly secured thereto by welding or other suitable means. As best shown in FIGS. l and 3, the plug member 13 is generally saucer shaped and has a centrally disposed opening into which the inner end portion 7 of the plug 5 extends. The saucer shape of the plug member 13 provides an annular sealing surface 14 and the tapered or beveled portion thereof provides an annular camming surface 15.

Carried on the tubular member 5 in radially spaced relation is a split metal ring or band 16. One end of this ring 16 bears against the camming surface 15 of the plug member 13 when the heater is assembled and applied to the automotive engine. By reference to FIG. l and FIG. 3, it can be seen that the diameter of the split ring 16 is slightly less than the outermost portions of the camming surface 15 so that when the split ring 16 is pressed against this camming surface, the effect will be to cause the ring 16 to expand circumferentially. Carried around the split ring 16 is a sealing collar indicated generally by the numeral 17. This sealing element ts around the split ring 16 in snug fitting relation and is slightly longer axially than the ring as is best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. As best shown in FG. 3, the sealing collar 17 is formed of a owable elastic material such as rubber and fabric which is embedded therein, similar to radiator hosing.

Also carried on the threaded end portion 6 of the tubular member 5 is a saucer shaped expander plate 18 which has a central bore within which the threaded end portion 6 of the tubular member Sis received. As best shown 'in FIGS. l and 3, this expander plate 18 also has an annular camming surface 19 which bears against the other end of the split ring 16. By reference to FIGS. l and 3 it will be readily noted that the diameter of the outermost portions of the camming surface 19 is `slightly greater than the internal diameter of the split ring 16 so that when the expander plate 18 is drawn tightly against the end of the split ring 16, the result will be that the split ring 16 will be expanded circumferentially. It will be noted that because of the construction of the sealing element 17 of rubber with fabric embedded therein, this sealing element 17 is capable of being expanded circumferentially.

Mounted exteriorly of the expander plate 18 upon the threaded end portion 6 of the tubular member 5 is a simple washer Ztl and threaded upon the outer end portion of the tubular member 5 is a conventional nut 21 which when tightened draws the expander plate 18 toward the plug member 14 and drives the camming surfaces 15 and 19 inwardly of the outer ends of the split ring 16. This causes the split ring 16 to expand and consequently expand the sealing elements 17 circumferentially.

When it is desired to utilize our freeze plug hole heater, the elements 16-21, inclusive, are mounted upon the threaded end portion 6 of the tubular member 5 in loose condition so that the sealing element 17 will be in its free form and at its minimum exterior circumference. It will be noted that the entire unit when so assembled, except for the expander plate 18, is of a smaller diameter than that of the freeze plug hole Z2.. The heater is then applied into the freeze plug hole indi-cated by the numeral ZZ which is formed in the wall 23 of the automotive engine. The entire heater unit is extended inwardly as far as possible until the expander plate 18 bears against the exterior surface thereof as shown in FIG. 3. After so position-ing the heater, the nut 21 is tightened and, as explained above, this gradually causes the camming surfaces 15 and 19 to cam the split ring 16 outwardly and cause the sealing element 17 to expand circumferentially. At the same time, it drives the inner edge surface of the sealing element 17 firmly against the sealing surface 14 of the plug member 13 and perfects a seal therebetween so that the circulating cooling fluid of the automotive engine will not pass therebetween into the area surrounding the exterior of t-he threaded end portion 6. It will be noted, by reference to FIG. 3, that in so doing the inner end portion of the length of hose 17 is also forced outwardly so as to effectively lock the entire heater unit within the walls 23 of the automotive engine and thereby preclude any possibility that the heater unit may become loosened and permit the entire heater unit to be lost and the circulating iluid to escape. When this has been accomplished, the heater unit is ready for the application of the female electrical connector plug which will bring the heating element 8 into electrical connection with a source of electrical power. The entire heater unit may remain in the core hole plug at all times and is always available for use in heating the cooling fluid in periods of extremely cold weather.

From the above it can be seen that we have provided an extremely simple and inexpensive freeze plug hole heater which can be manufactured lat a minimum of cost and can be installed with a minimum of effort. Moreover, the heater when applied as described effectively locks itself in position so as to preclude the loss of the heater element itself and the circulating uid.

-Another important advantage of our freeze plug hole heater is that it so readily adapts itself to variations in the dimension of the freeze hole size. lt is well known that in every engine of the same type and size, there is a certain amount of variation in the size of such freeze plug holes and in some instances, these dimensions are substantial. lt is noteworthy that, for example, one of our freeze plug hole heaters of a given size may be utilized in holes having circumferential dimension variations with a range of one-eighth to three-sixteenths of an inch. In other words, a given heater constructed in accordance with our invention may have Variable circumferential dimensions with a range of 1/8-3/16 inch expansion.

Another very important advantage of our invention is that through the mere expedient of selecting radiator hose of different thickness but the same internal diameter, any one of our heaters can be quickly modified to adapt the same for use in freeze plug holes which are of substantially greater dimensions. As a result, this freeze plug hole heater has substantially universal application. We have found that our freeze plug hole heater functions in a highly desirable manner and is particularly aidvantageous in that it is so simple and inexpensive to manufacture and has such wide adaptability to holes of varying dimensions.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, details, arrangement and pro-` portions of the parts without departing from the scope of this invention which consists of the matter shown and described herein and set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A freeze plug hole heater for automotive engines comprising:

(a) a rigid tubular member having an externally threaded end portion and an opposite end portion,

(b) an electrical heating element sealed within said tubular member to seal off the interior thereof and extending axially outwardly from said opposite end portion,

(c) electrical connectors mounted within said threaded end portion of said tubular member and electrically connected with said heating element and adapted to be vconnected to a source of electrical power to supply the same for said heating element,

(d) a plug member having .an imperforate annular surface sealed around said opposite end portion of said tubular member and extending radially outwardly therefrom,

(e) an annular sealing surface carried by said plug member at one side therefrom and facing away from said heating element and toward said threaded end portion of said tubular member,

(f) an annular camming surface carried by said plug member and extending concentrically to said sealing surface and being disposed inwardly thereof,

(g) a split metal ring surrounding said tubular member in spaced radial relation thereto and having an external diameter less than the diameter of the freeze plug hole in which it is to be used and having opposite axially spaced end portions one of which has a ydiameter slightly less than that of said camming surface and bears thereagainst in radially outwardly cammed relation,

(h) a tubular sealing member surrounding said ring in closeiitting relation and having opposite end portions one of which bears against said sealing surface in sealing relation,

(i) said sealing member being formed of a lowable eljastic material and being circumferentially expandaf le,

(j) an expander plate carried by said threaded end portion of said tubular member in pierced relation and being movable axially thereof,

(k) an annular camming surface carried by said plate at one side thereof and extending concentrically with and bearing against the other end portion of said split'ring in radially outwardly camming relation and being of slightly larger diameter than the same and (l) a nut threaded on said threaded end portion of said tubular member and, when tightened, forcing said expander plate toward said plug member and thereby causing said camming surfaces to expand said ring and as a consequence said sealing member circumferentially whereby the entire heater may -be firmly secured within a freeze plug hole of slightly greater diameter than that of said sealing member when the latter is in its non-expanded form.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 wherein said connectors are disposed entirely within said threaded end portion of said tubular member.

3. A freeze plug hole heater for automotive enginescomprising:

(a) a tubular member,

(b) an electrical heating element sealed within said tubular member and extending outwardly therefrom,

(c) a spreader member having an imperforate annular surface sealed around said tubular member and exti tending radially outwardly therefrom and having an annular sealing surface thereon,

(d) a continuously formed tubular scaling element surrounding portions of said tubular member and having one of its ends bearing against said annular sealing surface of said spreader member in sealable relation, said sealing element being circumferentially expandable and being adapted to be inserted into an engine freeze plug hole of slightly larger diameter,

(e) circumferentially adjustable expander means surrounding said tubular member and bearing against the interior of said sealing element and when properly adjusted expanding the same circumferentially as desired to bring the same into sealing relation with the portions of such an automotive engine which define the freeze plug hole when said sealing element is so inserted, and

(f) means connected with said tubular member and engaging said expander means for adjusting the same into its expanded condition.

4. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said sealing element is comprised of a length of radiator hose.

5. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said adjusting means includes adjustable cam-action means disposed within said expander means for expanding said expander means and said sealing element from within and also includes threaded means for adjusting said camaction means.

6. The structure defined in claim 3 wherein said expander means includes a split metal ring disposed Within said sealing element and having an axial length shorter than that of said sealing element.

7. A freeze plug hole heater for automotive engines comprising:

(a) a plug member having an annular sealing surface,

(b) an electrical heating element mounted on said plug member and extending outwardly from one side thereof and adapted to be connected to a source of electrical power at another side of said plug member,

(c) an annular sealing element carried by said plug member and bearing against its said sealing surface in sealing relation, said sealing element being circumferentially expandible and being adapted to be inserted into an engine freeze plug hole of slightly larger diameter, and

(d) circumferentially expandable expander means carried by said plug member and constructed and arranged relative to said sealing element to hold the same in sealing relation against the annular sealing surface of said plug member and at the same time to expand said sealing element circumferentially while within such a freeze plug hole to seal orf the same in cooperation with said plug member and hold said plug member firmly relative to the hole with said heating element extending into the engine,

(e) said expander means and said plug member having external diameters less than the diameter of the freeze plug hole in which it is to be used, and

(f) means for circumferentially adjusting said expander means to cause circumferential expansion of said sealing element.

8. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said expander means includes a split metal ring disposed within said sealing element.

9. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing element is comprised of a flowable elastic material and has fabric embedded therein.

10. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said means for circumferentially adjusting said expander means includes an elongated threaded element carried by said plug member at a side thereof opposite said heating element and extending outwardly therefrom and includes an expander member carried by said threaded element in piercing relation and having a circumferentially expandable expander element arranged in expanding relation to the interior of said sealing element, and including a cooperative threaded member carried by said threaded element in threaded engagement and bearing against said expander member and forcing its said expander element into engagement with and expanding relation to said sealing element.

11. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing element is tubular in form and comprised of a fiowable elastic material.

12. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing element is tubular and continuous in form and is constituted of a owable elastic material having strengthening threads embedded therein and wherein said expander means includes a split ring disposed within said sealing element and said means for adjusting the expander means includes camming means engaging opposite ends of said split ring for causing the same to expand circumferentially and thereby expand said sealing element circumferentially into sealing relation with freeze plug hole defining portions of such an engine.

13. The structure defined in claim 7 wherein said sealing element is continuous and tubular in form and said means for adjusting said expander means includes an elongated threaded element carried by said plug member at a side thereof opposite said heating element and eX- tending outwardly therefrom, and includes an expander element carried by said threaded element in piercing relation and an expander element carried by said plug member, said expander elements being arranged in cxpanding relation to said expander means and to opposite ends of said sealing element, and also includes a cooperative threaded member carried by said threaded element in threaded engagement and bearing against said pierced expander element and forcing the same into expanding relation to said expander means and said sealing element.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,852,454 4/1932 Foster 285-338 2,620,429 12/1952 Boger et al. 219--316 X 2,783,352 2/1957 McKay 219-336 2,824,945 2/1958 Derumaux 219-336 FOREIGN PATENTS 860,732 2/1961 Great Britain.

OTHER REFERENCES Miele, German application 1,089,091 printed September 15, 1960.

Czepek et al., German application 1,112,792, printed August 17, 1961.

RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner.

ANTHONY BARTIS, Examiner. 

3. A FREEZE PLUG HOLE HEATER FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES COMPRISING: (A) A TUBULAR MEMBER, (B) AN ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT SEALED WITHIN SAID TUBULR MEMEBER AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, (C) A SPREADER MEMBER HAVING AN IMPERFORATE ANNULAR SURFACE SEALED AROUND SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND EXTENDING RADIALLY OUTWARDLY THEREFROM AND HAVING AN ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE THEREON, (D) A CONTINOUSLY FORMED TUBULAR SEALING ELEMENT SURROUNDING PORTIONS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND HAVING ONE OF ITS BEARING AGAINST SAID ANNULAR SEALING SURFACE OF SAID SPREADER MEMBER IN SEALABLE RELATION, SAID SEALING ELEMENT BEING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY EXPANDABLE AND BEING ADAPTED TO BE INSERTED INTO AN ENGINE FREEZE PLUG HOLE OF SLIGHTLY LARGER DIAMETER, (E) CIRCUMFERENTIALLY ADJUSTABLE EXPANDER MEANS SURROUNDING SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND BEARING AGAINST THE INTERIOR OF SAID SEALING ELEMENT AND WHEN PROPERLY ADJUSTABLE EXPANDING THE SAME INTO SEALING RELATION AS DESIRED TO BRING THE SAME INTO SEALING RELATION WITH THE POTIONS OF SUCH AN AUTOMOTIVE ENGINE WHICH DEFINE THE FREEZE PLUG HOLE WHEN SAID SEALING ELEMENT IS SO INSERTED, AND (F) MEANS CONNECTED WITH SAID TUBULAR MEMBER AND ENGAGING SAID EXPANDER MEANS FOR ADJUSTING THE SAME INTO ITS EXPANDED CONDITION. 